Clutch control issues...always nervous to drive :(

[Lainey_franky]

I passed my driving test in April this year and learned in an audi a1 (diesel). I bought the aygo x-play (15 plate and petrol) the end of may as I was appealed to the exterior of the cars size and design. To this day I still really struggle with the clutch control as I feel it's extremely high, compared to learning in the a1 which was a diesel and didn't need much clutch to actually get it moving. I don't need to drive the car as much as I'm walking distance to my work but I get really put off driving it as I'm scared of stalling at junctions and traffic lights and rolling back on Hill starts (which 1 or all 3 usually happens most times im driving). It's really knocked down my confidence and makes me nervous/hate driving when I enjoyed driving in my lessons. Can anyone give me tips on the clutch control? Also I've been told I could get the clutch adjusted by a garage, is that something that can happen? I bought it through hire purchase with Arnold Clark, could they fix it for me? I don't have the best knowledge in cars I'm afraid but would really appreciate some help and advice as to what I can do. 

[FROSTYBALLS]

Hello Elaine - welcome to Toyota Owners Club.

Think the main differences between your car and the driving instructors are 1) diesel cars generally are more difficult to stall than petrol, and 2) a petrol car needs more revs to move off than a diesel.

One thing one could consider is getting more practice at controlling the clutch in your car. If you could find somewhere quiet and possibly with a slope, you could practice getting your clutch control right off road - eg  a car park that has little use in the evenings or on a weekend.

With the handbrake on, and engine running, engage first gear, slightly press the accelerator and use the clutch to find the biting point. Once the biting point is found the car, will try to move forwards. Release the hand brake. Try to move off slowly.

You can also try dipping the clutch and raise it again to test the biting point. If it threatens to stall, increase the pressure slightly on the accelerator to raise the revs. 

Try the above over several days until you feel more comfortable.

Also remember your Aygo has Hill Start Assist. If before you start off, the brake pedal is pressed firmly, the brakes will stay on for a couple of seconds when the handbarke is released and the clutched raised. This helps prevent roll on hills when starting off.

Don't get too het up over the clutch operation and starting off, as that will only add to any anxiety you have. At the end of the day, practice makes perfect - so if you can practice somewhere off road and quiet, it will be less stressful.

Try the above over a few days before looking at clutch adjustments.

 

 

[fordulike]

Just to add to FROSTYBALLS excellent tips, you could try moving the seat back one or two clicks. If your left leg is too close to the clutch pedal, then it can make it awkward finding the biting point and fully releasing the clutch when needed.

Of course, don't move it so far back that you cannot operate the brake and accelerator pedals safely, or fully push the clutch all the way down.

[Cyker]

Yeah, this is something I've noticed after I took my test and seems to be a common problem; I learned in a crappy BSM Corsa and it was the most wretched car to drive because it had the pull of a wet spaghetti, but it taught me great clutch control and throttle balancing (If you could do a hill-start in that thing, you could do anything! )

Both my brothers learned in diesels tho' (One of them in a BMW 1-series! For a learner! What are these instructors thinking!?) and had the same problem as you.

Some tips and observations I had with them:

1) Don't be afraid to rev the engine - In a diesel you get used to moving off at low RPM, but this is much harder in a small petrol.

My brothers would try to move off barely touching the accelerator and would get frustrated when the car stalled. You just can't move off like this with a small petrol engine.

Before I got more confident with the see-saw method, my instructor just had me bring and hold the engine at 2000rpm then slowly engage the clutch.

 This works pretty well so you can concentrate on the clutch - feeling the engine RPM dip as you engage it and feeding the power in smoothly - until you feel more confident and can try the see-saw way (Bringing the clutch up as you press the accelerator just enough so that the car will move off smoothly without stalling; It's harder because the amount of accelerator needed is different all the time, e.g. if you are going up a slight hill or even if the steering wheel is turned slightly!)

Both my brothers were reluctant to bring the car to such high RPMs while moving off at first,  because they felt like they were over-revving the engine due to the noise.

Once they got over that they found it much easier.

 

2) Get a feel for the biting point - The Aygo's natural biting point *is* very high; I must admit I found it hard to tell when I'd let go sometimes because the bite is so close to the end of travel of the pedal compared to my Yaris!

If you have time it's worth finding a deserted hill, park facing up it, and just learn to hold the car using nothing but revs and the clutch. This is a great way to learn clutch finesse. You can learn to move the car up a bit and down a bit using nothing but varying the clutch pressure.

I had my brothers park up next to a post box, then bring the car to 2000rpm, hold their right foot there, and then gently switch to the clutch and hold it there, noting how the RPMs dip.

When they felt settled, I'd make them move the car 1 car length up the hill, still with their right leg not-moving and using nothing but the clutch, then moving down again and stopping, again using nothing but the clutch.

The last one was a little iffy as they'd put too much clutch in and stall, or make the car move up again instead of holding it, but after a few goes they got the hang of balancing it.

(NB: You wouldn't do this in Real Life as you'd wear out the clutch pretty quick, but for practising purposes it's fine - Both my brothers were scared they'd set the clutch on fire or something so I had to reassure them repeatedly that as long as they didn't panic and stamp on the accelerator it would be fine for the short time we were practising that!)

It will take a bit of time to sink in so don't worry about the occasional stall; Before too long it'll become second nature and you won't even need to think about it! But you'll only get to that point by driving regularly!

 

And if it's any reassurance, it works both ways too; When I first picked up my diesel Yaris I moved off like I would have in my crappy old petrol Fiesta and nearly shat myself because it launched so hard! 
 

[mickburkesnr]

 

6 minutes ago, Cyker said:

BSM Corsa

Such a hateful little car, I learnt to drive in two of them.

Anyway, what you have to remember is that if you stall a car on the junction, nothing is going to happen. There'll be the one idiot behind you who beeps at you, but who is he anyway? He's a nobody. People when they first learn to drive think the minute they stall the car the whole world is going to end. Planes will fall out of the sky, ice caps will melt, but no. Nothing is going to happen. If you stall the car, don't get flustered and take your time.

The easiest way to get around stalling the car, or the fear of it, is to over-rev the engine. Stalling happens when there's too much bite on the clutch and not enough engine power behind it, so add more revs and control the clutch accordingly. Sooner or later, and it will only come with practice, you'll rev less and you'll control the clutch better because you're used to it.

Ultimately you have to remember you have done something what 50% of the population hasn't done and that's pass your driving test. You've done the hard work, you're safe to drive on the public roads. When it comes to stalling, as I said before, it's not the end of the world. If the people behind you are annoyed then so be it, you don't know them, and you're not causing them any problems other than being 10 seconds late to wherever they're going. You have to wonder what they' would've done with those 10 seconds you cost them?

My fiancee was like you and hated driving manual cars even though she passed her test in one. But it's a confidence thing, and once you know that stalling the car isn't a major issue and that as long as you take your time you'll be fine. Practice makes perfect, don't let some silly little clutch dent your confidence. You're better than 50% of the population, and whatever percentage only passed on an automatic. You tell the car what to do, and when the car decides to be difficult you take your time and you tell it to do what you say one more time. And you'll be fine. 

[Cyker]

Yeah... while I credit the awfulness of those cars for my ability to drive almost any piece of crap, they have put me off anything with the words "Vauxhall" or "Corsa" on them forever .

My Mk1 Yaris on the other hand... 
 

[mickburkesnr]

1 hour ago, Cyker said:

Yeah... while I credit the awfulness of those cars for my ability to drive almost any piece of crap, they have put me off anything with the words "Vauxhall" or "Corsa" on them forever .

My Mk1 Yaris on the other hand... 
 

I've drove two Corsa's and an Insignia. I'd rather live sleep and drive in a Lada Riva than drive a Vauxhall again.

[FROSTYBALLS]

We had a Corsa courtesy car back in 2001 when our 2000 Honda Civic was in for repair after a break in. At the time my partner had a medical problem with her one arm, and couldn't manage the non-power assisted steering. I used the Corsa for a of day, and the steering was really heavy. The bodyshop replaced the Corsa with a Daewoo Matiz, which was actually far preferable to drive than the Corsa - and not just because of the power assisted steering.